Tuesday, June 23, 2009

45 Life Lessons

I'd like to share with you something that my dad sent me in an email. It says it was written by a lady named Regina Brett from Cleveland, Ohio. Don't know if that info is accurate, but it sounds good :) Anyhow, here it is:

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone elses, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.


Many of these are great things to remember each and every day. In keeping with my post yesterday about the "Our Father" I liked the fact that there were three points that dealt with forgiving people (#s 3, 11 and 28).

If more people could just forgive the past hurts of their life and not hang on to things for so long, the world would be a much better place. Life is too short to carry hatred around in your heart.

I have to admit that sometimes I'll be upset with someone and I'll feel this desire to hang onto the hatred. It is as if the devil doesn't want me to let go of the hurt and the anger. As I mentioned yesterday, whenever I'm having a particularly hard time forgiving someone, I beg God to give me the gift of forgiveness and He always delivers!

Hopefully something in this list has jumped out at you and will help you along your way today!

2 comments:

  1. This was great Laura. Much needed reminders...which we need EVERYDAY!

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  2. Neat post! I really liked-

    #29. What other people think of you is none of your business

    Too often I'm caught up in whether I should or shouldn't do/act on/say something because of what others may think of me. Really, what matters, is what God will think. Some food for thought for me today.

    =)

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